Multi-stage displacement pump



June 1964 A. ARUTUNOFF MULTI-STAGE DISPLACEMENT PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1962 INVENTOR A RAM/5 ARU T UIVOF F ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,138,113 MULTI-STAGE DISPLACEMENT PIW Armais Arutunotf, Bartlesville, Okla, assignor to Roda Pump Company, Bartlesville, Okla, a corporation of Delaware Filed 1 12411216, 1962, Ser. N 180,188 4 Elairns. (Cl. 103-239) This invention relates to pumps for elevating liquids from deep wells by displacement with a compressed gaseous fluid, and consists more particularly in new and useful improvements in a multi-stage displacement pump assembly of the type basically disclosed in my prior U.S. Patents Nos. 1,758,346, dated May 13, 1930, and 1,796,- 425, dated March 17, 1931.

Generally speaking, in the removal of liquids from deep wells, the lifting is accomplished with continuously operated pumps which are in no way responsive to the inflow of liquid in the bore hole. In other words, regardless of the volume of liquid in the bore hole available for lifting, these pumps continue to operate, and as they comprise no automatic means for reducing or adjusting their consumption of power to meet the requirements of the bore hole, they are naturally wasteful of power and are not economical from the standpoint of minimizing the wear of parts.

In my said prior patents, I disclosed a certain basic principle of utilizing multi-stage pump assemblies comprising a series of successive pumping units, each designed for operation by gas displacement of liquid and including automatic means responsive to the volume of liquid being handled, to control the action of the assembly. However, such assemblies were found to be objectionable from the standpoint of ease of installation, simplicity of construction, and economy of manufacture, largely due to the necessity of simultaneously lowering two strings of tubing into the bore hole.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages and to provide a pump assembly of this general nature wherein the construction and arrangement of basic parts is substantially concentric, to thereby facilitate installation as well as to minimize the cost of manufacture and assembly.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a novel and efficient means for connecting the separate gas conducting tube of each unit to the unit next below, to there by facilitate installation and disassembly.

A further object lies in the provision of a novel float actuated valve and leverage mechanism for each unit which is designed to translate a relatively small buoyancy pressure and light float weight into a sufiiciently magnified operating force to overcome the force of high pressure differentials to which the valves are alternately subjected.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view partially broken away, illustrating the assembly of the present invention;

FIGURES 2A and 2B are enlarged vertical sectional views, jointly illustrating one of the units of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2A;

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged sectional view of the valve and leverage mechanism for controlling the admission and discharge of gas for operating the respective units;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the valve and leverage mechanism;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view looking upwardly through the casing, showing the relationship of the valve and leverage mechanism; and

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the lower extremity of the lowermost unit.

In the drawings, referring to FIGURE 1, the numeral 10 represents a conventional well casing closed at its upper end by the usual head 11. Extending upwardly through the head 11, is a liquid conducting tube 12, connected at its upper extremity by a coupling 13, to a liquid discharge conduit 14. The lower end of the tube 12 screw-threadedly engages a concentric valve head 15 which is threaded into and forms the top closure of an uppermost cylinder or reservoir housing 16, the lower end of which is closed by an annular bottom closure 17. The bottom closure 17 concentrically supports a second liquid conducting tube 12a which, in turn, is connected to and supports an intermediate cylinder or reservoir 16a and likewise, a lower tube 12!) connects cylinder 16a to a lowermost cylinder 16!), as and for the purpose hereinafter described more in detail.

Returning to upper portion of the installation, a gas supply conduit 18 leading from any suitable source of compressed gas or air is connected by a coupling 19 to a gas conducting tube 2b which, by means of a suitable adaptor 19a, extends concentrically through coupling 13 and into the upper liquid conducting tube 12 in concentrically spaced relation to the latter, so as to provide an annular liquid passageway surrounding tube 20.

Preferably, but not necessarily, a smooth surfaced tube extension 21 of slightly smaller diameter (FIG.'2A) is fitted into the lower end of tube and welded or otherwise secured thereto as at 22, said tube extension being directed downwardly for a predetermined length to concentrically engage within an adaptor 23.

The adaptor 23, as best seen in FIGS. 2A and 3, comprises a vertical tube, the upper end of which isprovided with a series of radial guide fins 24, slidably embracing the inner periphery tube 12. The upper edges of these fins 24 are downwardly inclined and converge at a central bore 25 in the adaptor tube 23 which is provided with suitable sealing rings 26 for engagement with the lower end of gas tube extension 21, which is received by the adaptor 23. The lower end of the adaptor tube 23 is externally threaded as at 27 to engage complementary threads in a central bore 28 in valve head 15. Thus, the adaptor is firmly maintained in its central location within tube 12 and serves not only to centralize the gas tube 20 within the tube 12, but seals the tube extension 21 with respect to the surrounding annular liquid passageway defined by the tube 12.

The bore 28 of the valve head 15 is provided intermediate its ends with an annular, inwardly projecting shoulder 29, which engages an enlarged rim 30 on the end of a con centric tube 31. i As seen in FIG. 213, this tube extends substantially to the lower end of cylinder 16, where it threadedly engages a coupling member 32, extending through an upstanding valve housing 33, sealed therein by suitable sealing rings 34.

Similarly, a tube 31a is threaded into the opposite end of coupling member 32, forming a continuation of the tube 31 which extends through the bottom closure 17 of the cylinder 16 and tube 12a, for connection to the unit 16a next below.

Returning to FIGURE 2A, it will be seen that at the bottom of the head 31$, the bore 28 is radially enlarged and internally threaded as at 35 to receive complementary threads at the upper end of a tube 36, the lower end of WhiCh'iS threaded as at 37 (FIG. 2B) to engage internal threads in an upwardly extending collar 38, threadedly supported by the valve housing 33. The tube 36 is radially spaced with respect to both the tube 31 and the cylinder 16 so as to define an annular liquid passageway 39 forming a continuation of the liquid passageway defined by tube 12 and a concentric liquid reservoir 40 bounded by the cylinder 16. Thus, the tubes 21, 31, 31a, etc. connected to gas tube 20 form a continuous gas passageway surrounded by a concentric liquid passageway 39, defined by the communicating tubes 36 in each reservoir and the connecting tubes 12, 12a, 12b, etc.

Communication between the liquid conducting tube 12 and passageway 39 in cylinder 16 is controlled by a series of ball valves or the like 42 arranged in ports 43, designed to close under the weight of a column of liquid in tube 12 and to automatically open under the force of a column of liquid flowing upwardly from passageway 39. Similarly, the lower end of passageway 39, as seen in FIG. 2B, is provided with a series of ball valves 44 arranged in ports 45 and designed to close under the weight of a column of liquid in passageway 39 and to open under the force of liquid entering from the lower end of reservoir 40.

The valve head 15 is provided with a gas control valve assembly generally indicated by the numeral 46, comprising an annular base 47 secured to the bottom of the head 15 by suitable bolts 48. Referring to FIGURE 4, the valve base 47 is provided with gas intake and exhaust ports 49 and 50 respectively, both in communication with the upper end of reservoir 40. The intake port 49 communicates with the bore 28 in head 15 and with the gas inlet tube 20, through connected passageways 51 and 52 in head 15, and the exhaust port 50 communicates with the exterior of the cylinder 16 through a vent passageway 53in head 15.

The intake and exhaust ports 49 and 50 are controlled by a pair of simultaneously operable valve elements 54 and 55 respectively, so arranged that when one valve element is in open position, the other is in closed position with respect to their seats formed in ports 49 and 50. Thus, when this valve mechanism is operated by means hereinafter described in more detail, gas is either admitted to the upper end of the reservoir 40 from the gas inlet tube 20 or vented from said reservoir through vent 53.

The valve assemblies 46 of the respective units 16, 16a, 1611, etc. are identical, and each is controlled by an elongated annular float 56. A description of one of these assemblies and its relationship to the controlling fioat will sufiice for all. The valve base 47 secured to the head 15 is centrally recessed as at 57 (FIGS. 2A and to accommodate the liquid tube 36 with a clearance between the two and, adjacent the ports 49 and 50, the base is vertically drilled to receive valve stems 54a and 55a connected to the valves 54 and 55 respectively. This is best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5. The lower extremities of the valve stems 54a and 55a are connected to a cross arm 58 which is maintained in position for guided vertical reciprocation by means of a pin 59, slidably disposed in a complementary bore 60 in the base 47. As seen in FIGURE 4, the valves 54 and 55 are so arranged that upon the upward movement of the cross-arm 58 by means later described, the valve 54 will open and the valve 55 will close, and upon the downward movement of the cross-arm 58, the valve 54 will close and the valve 55 will open.

To effect communication between the ports 49 and 50 and the respective reservoirs 40 when the valves 54 and 55 are operated, each base 47 is transversely drilled to provide passageways 49a and 50a, opening at opposite 'ends in the internal and external clearances of the valve base 47 with the cylinder 16 and tube 36 respectively.

The specific construction of the float controlled valve leverage mechanism is best shown in FIGS. 2A, 4, 5 and 6. Referring first to FIGURE 5, it will be seen that a guide fixture 61 is supported from the underside of the annular valve base 47 and terminates at its lower end in an annular guide ring 62 which slidably supports an operating rod 63 for vertical reciprocation by the float control mechanism hereinafter described. The upper extremity of the rod 63 is pivotally connected as at 64 to a lever 65, fulcnlmed as at 66 to a downwardly extending support 67, depending from the underside of the valve base 47. The opposite end of the lever is pivoted at 68 to the parallel angular end 69 of a bent lever 70 which is substantially U-shaped in configuration to accommodate the tube 36 which extends downwardly through the opening 57 in the valve base 47, as seen in FIGURE 6. This bent lever 7 0 extends around the tube 36 and is angularly bent at its opposite end as at 71 to lie parallel with the angular end 69 thereof. The end 71 of the lever 70 is pivoted intermediate its ends at 72 to a depending post 73 supported on the underside of the valve base 47 and the extremity of this angular end is pivotally connected at 74 to a bifurcated bracket 75 fixed to the underside of the valve cross-arm 58.

Preferably, the pivotal connection 68 between the angular end 69 of lever 70 and the pivoted lever 65 is effected through a slot 76 in the lever 65, to compensate for shifting movement between the two levers in operation. Also, an off-center spring arrangement 77 is provided to maintain the leverage mechanism in one position or the other until positively shifted by the float control mechanism to the opposite position. This off-center spring arrangement may consist of a downwardly extending bracket 78 fixed to the underside of the valve base 47 and having interposed between it and the bent lever 70, a coil spring 79 as best seen in FIGURE 6.

In a pump installation of the type embodied in this invention, it will be apparent that the force of high pressure differentials must be overcome in the alternate operation of the valves 54 and 55, and with the leverage mechanism just described, a relatively small buoyancy pressure applied to the operating rod 63 is translated into a considerably magnified operating force to actuate the valves. A slight upward movement of the operating rod 63 rocks the lever 65 in clockwise direction on its pivot 66, and its connection 68 to the adjacent end of the bent lever 70 causes a corresponding clockwise rotation of the latter about its pivot 72. The opposite end 71 of the lever 70 is thus caused to elevate the cross-arm 58 through its pivotal connection 74 which, in turn, opens the valve 54 and closes the valve 55. The downward movement of the operating rod 63 causes the reverse valve operation, closing the valve 54 and opening the valve 55.

Upon the initiation of either of the valve movements above described, the off-center spring mechanism 77 maintains the leverage in that particular position until the positive reverse operation of the rod 63.

Each of the units 16, 16a, 16b, etc. is provided with an annular float 56 which surrounds the central tube 36 with a clearance, and is responsive to the liquid level in the respective reservoir 40. As seen in FIGURE 2B, each tube 36 is provided with a bracket 78 which is held in fixed position on the periphery of the tube by a set screw or the like 79. On one side of the tube 36, the

bracket 78 slidably supports a vertically reciprocable rod' 80 having an enlarged float engaging head 81 at its upper end and biased towards its uppermost position by a coil spring 82. The lower extremity of the rod 80 is screw-threaded and secured to the angular lower end of an elongated, relatively stilf shaft 83, by means of a nut 84. The shaft 83 is slidably supported in a sleeve 85 fixed to the periphery of the tube 36 and its upper end emerges from the sleeve 85 where it is connected by any suitable means to the enlarged base 86 of the valve operating rod 63.

Thus, when the reservoir 40 is empty or the liquid level therein is relatively low, the float 56 descends and rests upon the head 81 of the rod 80, its weight overmitted to build up until sufiicient liquid has accumulated therein to lift the float 56 off of the rod 80, whereupon the coil spring 32 raises the rod 80, and with it, the stem 83 which results in the opening of the gas inlet valve 54 and the closing of the vent 55. The admission of gas pressure from the gas tube through the connected passageways 52 and 51 and the valve port 49, acts upon the top of the column of liquid in the reservoir 49 and causes the same to flow upwardly past the ball valves 44 and passageway 39 to either enter the unit next above or to discharge through the discharge conduit 14.

As soon as the liquid level in the reservoir has receded to a point where the float 56 again contacts the rod 80, the reverse operation of the dual valve assembly takes place, shutting off the admission of gas pressure to the reservoir and venting the gas to atmosphere.

With the series of units 16, 16a, 161), etc. connected as described, the column of liquid being pumped from the bore hole of the well enters the lowermost unit and is progressively lifted from unit to unit under the control of the respective floats and valve assemblies until it is ultimately discharged through a conduit 14. In this connection, it should be noted that the lowermost unit 16b is provided with a bottom closure 17b which, instead of being annular as in the case of the bottom closures of the other units, extends entirely across the tube 16b as best seen in FIGURE 7. A series of ports 87 controlled by ball valves 88 permit the entrance of liquid from the bore hole into the reservoir 40 of unit 16b and the arrangement is such that the ball valves close the ports under the weight of a column of liquid in the reservoir. Also, unlike the other units, the tube 31b of the lower unit is closed by acap 89 to terminate the flow of gas beyond this point, the introduction of gas into the lowermost unit being controlled by the valve assembly 46 in the upper portion of that unit in the manner just described.

As previously explained, one of the objects of the invention is to provide an installation wherein the construction and arrangement of basic parts is substantially concentric so as to facilitate installation and disassembly. With the construction as shown and described herein, it will be apparent that with the removal of the head 15 of any unit, the tube 36, as well as the valve assembly 46 and the valve housings 33 connected to the tube 36, may be removed through the top of the cylinder 16, without disassembly.

In this connection, in order to facilitate the removal and insertion of the central tube or tubes forming the gas passageway, the enlarged upper end 30 of the uppermost tube 31 is preferably internally threaded as at 90 to receive a suitable tool by means of which the tubes 31, 31a, etc. may be withdrawn or inserted as a unit through the upper end of the installation.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a displacement pump assembly for deep wells, a series of concentric liquid displacement units each comprising a cylindrical housing closed at its upper end by a head and at its lower end by a bottom closure, central vertical openings extending through respective heads and bottom closures, connecting tubes extending between respective housings and secured at opposite ends in the central openings of the bottom closure of each housing and the head of the housing next below, supporting said housings in vertically spaced relation in said well, each housing having an inwardly spaced, concentric annular partition forming therein the common Walls of a liquid passageway and a surrounding liquid reservoir, each partition being connectedat its upper end into the central opening of the head and terminating at its lower end in communication with the reservoir of the respective housing, each liquid passageway communicating through said head with the connecting tube next above, check valves at the lower end of each partition controlling entry of liquid from said reservoir into respective liquid passageways, check valves in the central opening of each head controlling the entry of liquid from each liquid passageway to the connecting tube next above, tubular gas conducting means connected to a source of compressed gas, extending through all of said units in concentrically inwardly spaced relation to respective connecting tubes and annular partitions, a float in each reservoir, valve means in each head responsive to said float for controlling the admission of compressed gas to and its exhaust from the upper end of each reservoir, and a liquid discharge conduit connected to the upper end of the uppermost unit, whereby the liquid in respective reservoirs is progressively lifited from the reservoir to reservoir and discharged from the uppermost reservoir through said discharge conduit.

2. A displacement pump assembly for deep wells, comprising a series of vertically spaced, concentric cylinders, each closed at its upper end by a head and at its lower end by a bottom closure; vertical, annular partitions concentrically arranged in each cylinder, defining therein an annular liquid reservoir and a central liquid passageway, the latter each being open at its ends, check valve means controlling the entrance of liquid from said reservoirs into said passageways; connecting tubes between adjacent cylinders and concentric therewith communicating at their upper ends through respective bottom closures, with the reservoir of the cylinder next above and at their lower ends through respective heads, with the liquid passageway of the cylinder next below, check valve means controlling the entrance of liquid from said passageways to said connecting tubes, a gas conduit connected at its upper end to an external source of compressed gas, said conduit comprising a series of sections connected into respective heads and extending concentrically through successive cylinders in inwardly spaced relation to respective connecting tubes and annular partitions, and terminating in a closed lower end within the lowermost liquid passageway, gas inlet ports in each head placing said gas conduit in communication with the upper end of the reservoir of that cylinder, vent ports in each head leading from respective reservoirs to the atmosphere, float means in each reservoir, simultaneously operable valves in respective ports, responsive to said floats for alternately controlling the admission of gas from said conduit to the upper ends of said reservoirs and the venting of gas therefrom, and a liquid discharge tube connected to the uppermost of said liquid passageways, whereby the liquid in respective reservoirs is progressively lifted from reservoir to reservoir and discharged from the uppermost reservoir through said discharge tube.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the gas inlet and vent control valves of each cylinder are mounted on a common cross-arm for vertical reciprocation in respective ports, a pivot post connected to the underside of each head and depending in respective reservoirs in relatively close proximity to said cross-arms, a first horizontal lever of substantially U-shape pivoted adjacent one end on said pivot post and pivotally connected at that end to said cross-arm, said first lever partially surrounding the annular partition in the respective cylinder, a second horizontal lever pivotally connected at one end to the opposite end of said first lever, said second lever being pivotally supported intermediate its ends on a second depending pivot post supported beneath said head, an operating rod pivotally connected to the opposite end of said second lever and supported beneath said head for vertical reciprocation, and means controlled by said float and engageable with said operating rod for actuating the latter responsive to a rise and fall of liquid in the respective reservoir.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lastnamed float controlled means comprises a vertically movable shaft connected at its upper end to the operating end of said second lever, and spring actuated means connected to its lower end and normally biasing said shaft upwardly to simultaneously open the valve in said gas inlet port and close the valve in said vent port, said spring actuated means being fixed in said cylinder and arranged in line for abutment and depression by the weight of said float, upon the latters descent, to reverse the operation of said shaft, leverage system, and gas control valves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,380,181 Beck May 31, 1921 8 Welden Dec. 19, Follis Apr. 8, Arutunoff May 13, Hardie et a1. June 24, Rubel Jan. 3, Traylor Mar. 21, Traylor et a1. Mar. 6, Nixon May 28, Nixon May 28, Coy et a1. July 9, Bennett Dec. 26, Berry July 2, Havens Dec. 3, Gould Ian. 20,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany May 9, Italy Feb. 13, 

1. IN A DISPLACEMENT PUMP ASSEMBLY FOR DEEP WELLS, A SERIES OF CONCENTRIC LIQUID DISPLACEMENT UNITS EACH COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL HOUSING CLOSED AT ITS UPPER END BY A HEAD AND AT ITS LOWER END BY A BOTTOM CLOSURE, CENTRAL VERTICAL OPENINGS EXTENDING THROUGH RESPECTIVE HEADS AND BOTTOM CLOSURES, CONNECTING TUBES EXTENDING BETWEEN RESPECTIVE HOUSINGS AND SECURED AT OPPOSITE ENDS IN THE CENTRAL OPENINGS OF THE BOTTOM CLOSURE OF EACH HOUSING AND THE HEAD OF THE HOUSING NEXT BELOW, SUPPORTING SAID HOUSINGS IN VERTICALLY SPACED RELATION IN SAID WELL, EACH HOUSING HAVING AN INWARDLY SPACED, CONCENTRIC ANNULAR PARTITION FORMING THEREIN THE COMMON WALLS OF A LIQUID PASSAGEWAY AND A SURROUNDING LIQUID RESERVOIR, EACH PARTITION BEING CONNECTED AT ITS UPPER END INTO THE CENTRAL OPENING OF THE HEAD AND TERMINATING AT ITS LOWER END IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE RESERVOIR OF THE RESPECTIVE HOUSING, EACH LIQUID PASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING THROUGH SAID HEAD WITH THE CONNECTING TUBE NEXT ABOVE, CHECK VALVES AT THE LOWER END OF EACH PARTITION CONTROLLING ENTRY OF LIQUID FROM SAID RESERVOIR INTO RESPECTIVE LIQUID PASSAGEWAYS, CHECK VALVES IN THE CENTRAL OPENING OF EACH HEAD CONTROLLING THE ENTRY OF LIQUID FROM EACH LIQUID PASSAGEWAY TO THE CONNECTING TUBE NEXT ABOVE, TUBULAR GAS CONDUCTING MEANS CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF COMPRESSED GAS, EXTENDING THROUGH ALL OF SAID UNITS IN CONCENTRICALLY INWARDLY SPACED RELATION TO RESPECTIVE CONNECTING TUBES AND ANNULAR PARTITIONS, A 